Turns Out, I’m In A Villain Clan!

Chapter 462 Lin Xuan vs Yuan Jie!

The clash continued.

At first glance, it was exactly as everyone had predicted.

After the unexpected resistance from Lin Xuan, Yuan Jie dominated the tempo with his overwhelming power.

His Soul Formation qi surged endlessly, each strike heavier than the last.

His sword techniques were not refined or elegant, but they were brutally effective-battle-tested moves forged through countless life-and-death missions.

Every swing carried killing intent; every step forced Lin Xuan closer to the edge of the arena.

Boom!

Another downward strike smashed into the platform, cracking stone and sending fragments flying.

Lin Xuan slid backward, boots scraping against the ground. His sleeve was torn, a thin line of blood appearing along his arm.

The crowd stirred. ”Thatʼs more like it.” ”Nascent Soul canʼt compete with Soul Formation after all.” ”Yuan Jie hasnʼt even used his full strength yet.”

Fei Lingʼs brows furrowed deeply. Her fingers clenched unconsciously.

Yun Qingmei bit her lip, eyes glued to the platform.

Even Kong Zhanhong was worried as he watched Lin Xuan being pushed back.

Only Bai Zihan remained unmoved.

In the arena, Yuan Jie laughed, the sound loud and confident. ”Whatʼs wrong?” he taunted. ”Is this all youʼve got? You really thought you could cross realms and beat me?”

He was worried at first because of Lin Xuanʼs unexpected speed but after using his full power and pushing Lin Xuan back, he got his confidence back.

He stepped forward, aura flaring even stronger.

His sword erupted with dense qi, the blade glowing faintly as he unleashed a full-powered technique. ”Crushing Severance!”

The sword descended like a mountain.

The pressure alone made weaker disciples in the audience feel their breathing grow heavy.

This time, Lin Xuan did not retreat.

He raised his sword.

Clang-!

The impact rang out sharply, far louder than before.

Lin Xuan was forced down to one knee, the platform beneath him fracturing further, spiderweb cracks spreading outward.

A collective gasp rose from the stands.

Yuan Jieʼs grin widened. ”There it is,” he sneered. ”Kneel!”

But then-

Lin Xuanʼs sword trembled.

A subtle shift occurred, one so small that most failed to notice it. Lin Xuanʼs qi circulation changed-no longer defensive, no longer restrained.

The pressure around him sharpened.

Yuan Jieʼs expression flickered. ”What?”

Lin Xuan pushed upward.

Slowly and steadily.

The mountain-like pressure broke.

Yuan Jie was forced back half a step, eyes widening in disbelief. ”Thatʼs impossible-!”

Lin Xuan rose to his feet, dust settling around him.

Despite Yuan Jie giving his all, Lin Xuan remained unfazed.

Yuan Jieʼs confidence wavered, irritation flashing across his face. ”So you were hiding your strength,” he growled. ”Fine. Iʼll crush you anyway!” He surged forward again, this time unleashing everything-his strongest techniques layered one after another, sword light filling the arena in violent arcs.

Lin Xuan moved.

His footwork shifted subtly, angles tightening, steps precise to the inch. Yuan Jieʼs overwhelming strikes began to miss-not by chance, but by calculation.

Slash!

Parry!

Redirect!

Each exchange drained Yuan Jie slightly more, while Lin Xuan remained steady as he calm predicted every move of Yuan Jie. (Something was wrong!)

Yuan Jie thought as ever after using his all, he was once again not able to hit Lin

Xuan.

Yuan Jieʼs breathing grew heavier.

His attacks, once fluid, became impatient. ”Why wonʼt you fall!?”

Yuan Jie roared, pouring even more qi into his blade.

That impatience was the opening.

Lin Xuanʼs eyes sharpened.

In that instant, Lin Xuanʼs sword intent erupted.

A sharp, invisible edge swept across the arena, and every cultivator present- sword user or not-felt it brush against their skin like cold steel.

The air changed.

The world seemed to narrow, as if everything except that single sword had been cut away.

For a heartbeat-

Silence!

Then the arena exploded. ”S-Sword Intent?!” ”No way-how is that possible?!” ”Thatʼs impossible! Only true sword cultivators whoʼve trained for hundreds of years can form sword intent!”

Gasps, shouts, disbelief-order collapsed instantly. Elders half-stood from their seats.

Disciples stared with wide eyes, some even unconsciously clutching their own swords as if responding to an unseen call.

Fei Ling froze.

Her breath caught. ”Sword... intent?” Yun Qingmeiʼs eyes shone, shock and awe mixing uncontrollably.

Even the overseeing elderʼs composure cracked, his pupils shrinking as he stared at Lin Xuan as though looking at a monster.

Above them all, Bai Zihanʼs gaze sharpened slightly.

Sigh! (What a monster!)

Bai Zihan thought. He too had Sword Intent, but that was something gifted by the System-not something he had earned himself.

On the platform, Yuan Jie staggered backward as if struck by an unseen force.

His sword trembled violently in his grasp, emitting a strained hum, as though resisting its master. ”Impossible...” Yuan Jie muttered hoarsely. ”This is impossible!”

His face was drained of color.

Sword intent wasnʼt something that could be obtained through force.

It wasnʼt something granted by the Cultivation realm.

It was comprehension-an understanding of the sword so deep it transcended technique itself.

And the only other person in the Heaven Sword Sect known to possess such a thing-

Was Bai Zihan!

Lin Xuan stepped forward.

His sword was still plain.

His stance unassuming.

Yet with sword intent woven through it, even the simplest movement felt like a fatal strike waiting to happen. ”All of this,” Lin Xuan muttered to himself, ”is thanks to Young Master.”

It wasnʼt as if Bai Zihan had taught him the sword or anything like that. After watching Bai Zihan use sword intent time and time again-watching how he cut through enemies, how his sword did not merely swing but decided-Lin

Xuan had begun to imitate him.

At first, it was instinct.

Then habit.

Then obsession.

Imitation alone should never have been enough.

No amount of copying could grant something so profound.

But Lin Xuan was Lin Xuan.

A Heaven Chosen!

A cultivator with monstrous talent and terrifying comprehension ability.

What began as imitation became understanding.

What began as observation became insight.

And at some point, even Lin Xuan himself hadnʼt realized it-

He had crossed the threshold.

Back in the arena, Yuan Jie screamed, his fear finally boiling over. ”No! Even with sword intent, youʼre still beneath me!”

He lunged forward desperately, sword blazing with unstable qi.

Lin Xuan moved.

One step.

One swing.

No technique.

No flourish.

Just a sword, carrying intent.

Slash!

The sword light cut through Yuan Jieʼs attack like paper, cleaving through qi, blade, and confidence in a single line.

Yuan Jieʼs sword shattered.

His body was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the edge of the arena before slumping to the ground, blood spraying from his mouth.

Lin Xuan stood where he was.

Sword lowered.

Silence swallowed the arena whole.

Then-

The realization struck everyone at once. This fight had never been close.

From the moment sword intent appeared-

It had already ended.

Yuan Jie lay sprawled at the edge of the arena, his body half-embedded in cracked stone.

His sword lay several meters away, shattered into dull fragments, its spiritual light completely extinguished.

Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but the pain in his body was nothing compared to the shock flooding his mind.

He... lost?

No!

It wasnʼt just losing.

He had been overwhelmed.

Yuan Jieʼs eyes trembled as he stared at Lin Xuan standing calmly at the center of the platform.

The same Lin Xuan he had provoked.

The same Lin Xuan he had believed he could trample at will.

Slow footsteps echoed across the arena.

Lin Xuan approached, sword lowered, no killing intent leaking from him. His expression was calm-almost gentle.

He stopped a few steps away. ”Do you want to continue?”

Lin Xuan asked quietly. The words were simple. But to Yuan Jie, they were heavier than any sword strike.

Continue?

With what?

His sword was broken.

And more importantly-

His confidence had been shattered beyond repair.

Yuan Jie clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms. His lips trembled as he tried to speak, but no sound came out at first.

The entire arena held its breath, waiting for Yuan Jieʼs answer.

Finally- ”...I give up!”

The words were hoarse, barely louder than a whisper.

The moment those words fell, something inside Yuan Jie collapsed completely.

Lin Xuan nodded once. ”Then I hope you keep your word.”

He turned away without another glance, walking back toward his original position as if the matter had already ended. For several heartbeats, no one moved.

Then the overseeing elder snapped back to himself.

He stepped forward, his voice carrying authority as spiritual qi amplified his words. ”The duel is concluded!”

His gaze swept across the arena. ”Yuan Jie has conceded. Lin Xuan is the victor!”

A shockwave of sound erupted from the stands.

Cheers, gasps, exclamations-some excited, some fearful, some disbelieving.

Nascent Soul defeating Soul Formation.

Sword Intent appearing! Total suppression.

It felt unreal.

And only then did everyone truly realize-

This was not just Lin Xuanʼs victory.

It was a declaration.

A reminder.

And a warning to the entire Heaven Sword Sect.

No matter who the Sect Leader was, he was still the same Lin Xuan!

No! More Powerful Lin Xuan!